Dan Bejar is an intriguing figure, with The New Pornographers, and on his own under the Destroyer alias, he has recorded some of the best music of the last decade, but most people will have no idea who he is. His latest album by Destroyer, entitled Kaputt, is one of the best albums of the year so far and may be record that brings him the acclaim he deserves. (Read our review of Kaputt). The opportunity to see him play live on stage was an intriguing one, what I had seen on YouTube of past live outings had veered greatly in quality with some fairly shambolic solo outings.
First up on stage was duo Amor De Dias, an act that I knew absolutely nothing about before the gig, featuring a member of the Clientele was all I could glean from their merchandise on sale. What I saw on stage on stage was a charming and subtle set from the the pairing (him English, her Spanish – I think) with hushed vocals and skillfully picked Spanish guitar. Her vocals took a while to settle, but proved to be a unique and enjoyable sound whilst his reminded me of The Kings of Convenience. Definitely one to look out for if you are going Indietracks later this month.
Destroyer took to the stage as a much bigger band than I was expecting, the 8 piece band producing a much bigger and harder edged sound than expected. Bejar is a reluctant front-man, crouching on the stage between songs and engaging as little as possible with the audience. Imagine Ginsberg fronting a band that is a cross between Spandau Ballet and the E-Street band and you just about get the picture.
It really is a great set, and a much better live experience than I was anticipating. There are a number of musical comparison points from Roxy Music to The Blow Monkeys, and it is a deliberately evocative sound that Bejar has chosen to adopt this year. In the hands of a less talented, more conventional, figure that could end up as a fairly valueless nostalgia trip, but what we end up with is something that is completely unlike anything else you’ll hear despite the reference points.
The set is lifted primarily from Kaputt and it is pretty well note perfect from start to finish, the smooth 80s sound given just enough edge and volume live to make it an experience. Bejar, despite his lack of comfort, takes the songs in his stride and is an engaging figure. His lyrics are interesting and oblique, and his vocal style is all his own. You can’t see him ever becoming a household name, and I doubt he wants to be, but on the strength of the performance today his cult status can only grow.
9/10
By Dorian Rogers
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